How I Lost My Love for Comedian Dane Cook

Being a fan of stand-up comedy, I always enjoy watching "Comedy Central Presents" in hopes of catching my favorites (Lewis Black, Dave Attell, Jim Gaffigan, Mitch Hedburg, and others) or discovering new up and coming comedians. I've become a fan of Patton Oswalt, Demitri Martin, and Brian Regan this way, and a few years ago I watched the episode featuring a comedian named Dane Cook.

Dane took control of the stage immediately, energetically leaping onto the stage and whipping up the crowd's enthusiasm before he even started his bit. He was young, handsome, and physically fit, a contrast to some comedians who are either older or not in great shape (or both). His set was hilarious; he told bits about wanting to be a snake, receiving communion, and the dreaded DMV, exuding a likeable, fun personality. He was hilarious, he was cool. I became an instant fan, and I knew he was going to become the next big thing.

Soon enough the secret was out. The popular prank calling show Crank Yankers featured Dane's voice for three seperate puppets, and his first comedy CD/DVD Harmful if Swallowed became a bestselling phenomenon. My best friend was a huge fan as well, and we were excited when Dane's HBO special Vicious Circle last year, and that's when I began to see cracks in Dane's armor. The beginning was funny, but it was mostly comprised of Dane's own language and his smugness. His invention of words and terms ("the teardrop", "chat-chitting", etc.) were his act. Where were the jokes?

It's not unusual for comedians to focus on language as part of their act. George Carlin is famous for his love of words and wordplay, and Demitri Martin often uses ironic puns in his standup routine. What sets them different from Dane Cook is that they use it as a tool to show their sarcasm or point of view. It's a base of the joke, not the entire joke.

I also got irritated with how long Dane took to tell a joke. Complicated jokes can take time to build up, and if the joke is going to take a sudden turn, a slow buildup can be essential. With Dane, he just seemed to enjoy talking, and to enjoy hearing himself talk.